Argonne National Laboratory

Nancy N. Kariuki

Chemist

Biography

Nancy Kariuki is a Chemist at CSE. She joined Argonne National Laboratory in 2005. Her research focus is in the field of materials science and electrocatalytic chemistry, specifically as related to analytical and electrochemistry, catalysis, and nano-technology as applied to the design, fabrication, characterization, and application of nano-structured materials and tools for use in catalysis and energy. She has experience in testing and characterization of single cells or individual components that comprise the cell and the analysis and identification of failure mechanisms using a suite of analytical techniques including Electrochemistry, Synchrotron X-ray techniques (e.g. X-ray scattering, X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), X-ray diffraction) and Microscopy techniques.

Dr. Kariuki has present and past experience in collaborating at multi-lab projects funded by the U.S. Department of Energy: including Consortium for The H2 from the Next-generation of Electrolyzers of Water (H2NEW), Consortium for The Million Mile Fuel Cell Technology Fuel Cell (M2FCT), Consortium for The Performance and Durability (FC-PAD), Electrocatalysis Consortium (ElectroCat), Rationally Designed Catalyst Layers for PEMFC Performance Optimization, PEFC Lifetime Limitations: The Role of Cathode Electrocatalyst Degradation, and Non-Platinum Bimetallic Cathode Electrocatalysts.   

 Education

•     Ph.D., Analytical/Materials Chemistry, State University of New York, Binghamton, NY, 2006

•     M.S., Chemistry, Egerton University, Njoro, Kenya, 1995

Selected Publications (orcid: 0000-0002-6123-7373)

  1. “Impact of Nickel Ions on the Oxygen Reduction Reaction Kinetics of Pt and on Oxygen Diffusion through Ionomer Thin Films.” Nancy N. Kariuki and Deborah J. Myers, J. Electrochem. Soc. 2021, 168 (6) 064505.
  2. “Degradation of Platinum-Cobalt Alloy PEMFC Cathode Catalysts in the Catalyst Ionomer Ink.” Deborah J. Myers, A. Jeremy Kropf, Evan C. Wegener, Hemma Mistry, Nancy Kariuki and Jaehyung Park. J. Electrochem. Soc. 2021, 168, 044510.
  3. “Editors’ Choice—Ionomer Side Chain Length and Equivalent Weight Impact on High Current Density Transport Resistances in PEMFC Cathodes.” Nagappan Ramaswamy, Swami Kumaraguru, Roland Koestner, Timothy Fuller, Wenbin Gu, Nancy Kariuki, Deborah Myers, Peter J. Dudenas, and Ahmet Kusoglu. J. Electrochem. Soc. 2021, 168, 024518.
  4. “Hierarchical electrode design of highly efficient and stable unitized regenerative fuel cells (URFCs) for long-term energy storage”, Xiong Peng, Zachary Taie, Jiangjin Liu,  Yaqian Zhang, Xinxing Peng, Yagya N. Regmi, Julie C. Fornaciari, Christopher Capuano, Dustin Binny, Nancy N. Kariuki, Deborah J. Myers, Mary C. Scott, Adam Z. Weber and Nemanja Danilovic, Energy Environ. Sci., 2020, 13, 4872-4881.
  5. “Coupling high-throughput experiments and regression algorithms to optimize PGM-free ORR electrocatalyst synthesis”, Mohammad Rezaul Karim, Magali Ferrandon, Samantha Medina, Elliot Sture, Nancy Kariuki, Deborah J. Myers, Edward F. Holby, Piotr Zelenay, and Towfiq Ahmed, ACS Appl. Energy Mater. 2020, 3, 9083−9088.
  6. “Investigation of the Microstructure and Rheology of Iridium Oxide Catalyst Inks for Low-Temperature Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Water Electrolyzers.” Khandavalli, Sunilkumar, Jae Park, Nancy Kariuki, Sarah Zaccarine, Svitlana, Pylypenko, Deborah Myers, Michael Ulsh and et al. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2019, 11, 45068−45079.
  7. “Impact of Catalyst Ink Dispersing Methodology on Fuel Cell Performance Using in-Situ X‑ray Scattering.” Min Wang, Jae Hyung Park, Sadia Kabir, K. C. Neyerlin, Nancy N. Kariuki, Haifeng Lv, Vojislav R. Stamenkovic, Deborah J. Myers, Michael Ulsh, and Scott A. Mauger.  ACS Appl. Energy Mater. 2019, 2, 6417−6427.
  8. “Potential Dependence of Pt and Co Dissolution from Platinum-Cobalt Alloy PEFC Catalysts using Time-resolved Measurements”, Ahluwalia, Rajesh, Dennis Papadias, Nancy Kariuki, Jui-Kun Peng, Xiaoping Wang, Yifen Tsai, Donald Graczyk and et al., J. Electrochem. Soc. 2018, 165(6), F3024-F3035.
  9. “Hybrid Approach Combining Multiple Characterization Techniques and Simulations for a Microstructural Analysis of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Electrodes”, Firat C. Cetinbas, Rajesh K. Ahluwalia, Nancy Kariuki, Vincent De Andrade, Dash Fongalland, Linda Smith, Jonathan Sharman, Paulo Ferreira, Somaye Rasouli, Deborah J. Myers, J. Power Sources 2017, 344, 62-73 .
  10. “SAD-GLAD Pt-Ni @Ni nanorods as Highly Active Oxygen Reduction Reaction Electrocatalysts” Nancy N. Kariuki; Mehmet F. Cansizoglu; Mahbuba Begum; Mesut Yurukcu; Fatma M. Yurtsever; Tansel Karabacak; Deborah J. Myers. ACS Catal. 2016, 6, 3478−3485.